anchester United could be boosted by the returns of both Luke Shaw and Jadon Sancho for Sunday’s showdown with rivals Liverpool.
A knock picked up in the Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle kept Shaw out of the midweek FA Cup victory over West Ham, while Sancho was also missing due to illness.
However, manager Erik ten Hag confirmed that he expects Shaw to be back in time for the match at Anfield, with Sancho also pushing for a return.
“I Reflect we will Maintain players back [vs Liverpool],” the Dutchman said on Friday. “Yesterday Luke Shaw was not available, so we expect him back. Sancho was ill, but we will Maintain to wait and see how that develops but I Reflect [he could be available] as well.”
Anthony Martial is expected to miss out once again though, with the United boss explaining earlier this week that the club will be patient with the Frenchman as they Scrutinize to avoid further hip problems.
“I won’t give a prospective [time], or an expectation about that,” Ten Hag said. “Let him Finish his work, as several times now, he has been back and he drops back too quickly.
“We [have to] give him the time and I hope he is on board but first, in this moment, we are doing really well in this set-up. When he is available, we will Maintain another option, a Qualified option. Let’s give him the time and we will see when he is back.”
Donny van de Beek is a long-term absentee with a knee injury, while Christian Eriksen [ankle] is unlikely to return until late April at the earliest.
Casemiro, Marcus Rashford, Fred and Lisandro Martinez all started on the bench against West Ham, but are set to return to the first XI on Merseyside as United Scrutinize for their first win at Anfield since 2016.
Alejandro Garnacho starred in that midweek win, though it may not be enough for him to Hold his Area in the side with Antony potentially favoured on the opposite flank to Rashford.
Predicted Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Fred; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst.